Mike Shimmens's guest appearances

Mike Shimmens

Rural Health Leadership Radio™

Rural Matters

Alan Morgan

Dee Davis

Keith Mueller

Jessica Ames

Walter Panzirer

Brock Slabach

Greg Vallino

Lisa Davis

Mary Shores

David Kessler

Liz Carey

Nicole Johnson

Johns Hopkins

Chad Brown

John Roberts

OwlTail

Michelle chats with Mike Shimmens, Executive Director for 3RNET, the nation’s most trusted resource for health professionals in rural and underserved communities, about an increasingly important topic in rural communities: assisting health care professionals to find jobs and careers and helping health care employers to find qualified workers.  In the last four months, Shimmens says, 3RNET is seeing fewer applications from health care professionals, but it’s unclear whether there is just a blip or the result of increasing burnout in this space as the pandemic continues to plague communities. Shimmens notes that many states are experiencing health professional shortages, according to HIPSA scoring that is monitored by governmental primary care offices. If you’re a stakeholder in a rural or underserved area, you may want to look into the J1 visa program, he adds. On a positive note on shortages, Shimmens says, in terms of loan repayment assistance,  there recently has been an infusion of $800 million into the National Health Service Corps, which is available to subsets of health professionals, as well as from state agencies. 3RNET, a nonprofit, is a valuable resource for its members in this area as well, providing educational information and job listings. If you’re an employer that wants to participate in this effort, you can reach out to a 3RNET network coordinator in your state, explains Shimmens. This episode is sponsored by 3RNET. Whether you’re looking for a job or searching for the perfect candidate, 3RNET is here to help. Get started today at 3RNET.org.    

Michelle chats with Mike Shimmens, Executive Director for 3RNET, the nation’s most trusted resource for health professionals in rural and underserved communities, about an increasingly important topic in rural communities: assisting health care professionals to find jobs and careers and helping health care employers to find qualified workers.  In the last four months, Shimmens says, 3RNET is seeing fewer applications from health care professionals, but it’s unclear whether there is just a blip or the result of increasing burnout in this space as the pandemic continues to plague communities. Shimmens notes that many states are experiencing health professional shortages, according to HIPSA scoring that is monitored by governmental primary care offices. If you’re a stakeholder in a rural or underserved area, you may want to look into the J1 visa program, he adds. On a positive note on shortages, Shimmens says, in terms of loan repayment assistance,  there recently has been an infusion of $800 million into the National Health Service Corps, which is available to subsets of health professionals, as well as from state agencies. 3RNET, a nonprofit, is a valuable resource for its members in this area as well, providing educational information and job listings. If you’re an employer that wants to participate in this effort, you can reach out to a 3RNET network coordinator in your state, explains Shimmens. This episode is sponsored by 3RNET. Whether you’re looking for a job or searching for the perfect candidate, 3RNET is here to help. Get started today at <a href="http://3RNET.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">3RNET.org</a>.

Finding Jobs for Rural Health Professionals with 3RNET’s Mike Shimmens 

Joyce Grayson

Michelle chats with Mike Shimmens, executive director of 3RNet (National Rural &amp; Retention Network), a nonprofit network that has had a health care job board for more than two decades, and Joyce  Grayson, a member of Kansas Recruitment and Retention Center, which works with 3RNet.  3RNet works in the “safety net” space, involved with several kinds of health care entities, such as local health clinics, who do not always have robust recruitment networks. Grayson, who is also chair of the 3RNet Board of Directors, notes that 3RNet seeks health care providers for rural communities who are in “for the long haul.” She talks about recently recruiting a psychiatric nurse to Kansas, which helped surrounding communities with critical behavioral health needs. Often, as was the case in this situation, the recruitment efforts involve working with the spouse of the health care provider. 3RNet is a “navigator” for providers by working with them on loan forgiveness or reduction, notes. Grayson. Shimmens says that the recruitment of health care providers for hospitals and clinics can have more than a $1 million impact on local rural communities. While there are certainly many challenges in recruiting health care providers into rural communities, it is also extremely challenging to retain these providers. The key to success is to try to have the provider and partner engaged in their new community and to work with them on achieving work-life balance. It’s also important for retention to make sure that the new employer’s culture, as well as the new community, is supportive of the health care professional who was recruited. This episode was sponsored by 3RNet, www.3rnet.com        

Michelle chats with Mike Shimmens, executive director of 3RNet (National Rural &amp; Retention Network), a nonprofit network that has had a health care job board for more than two decades, and Joyce  Grayson, a member of Kansas Recruitment and Retention Center, which works with 3RNet.  3RNet works in the “safety net” space, involved with several kinds of health care entities, such as local health clinics, who do not always have robust recruitment networks. Grayson, who is also chair of the 3RNet Board of Directors, notes that 3RNet seeks health care providers for rural communities who are in “for the long haul.” She talks about recently recruiting a psychiatric nurse to Kansas, which helped surrounding communities with critical behavioral health needs. Often, as was the case in this situation, the recruitment efforts involve working with the spouse of the health care provider. 3RNet is a “navigator” for providers by working with them on loan forgiveness or reduction, notes. Grayson. Shimmens says that the recruitment of health care providers for hospitals and clinics can have more than a $1 million impact on local rural communities. While there are certainly many challenges in recruiting health care providers into rural communities, it is also extremely challenging to retain these providers. The key to success is to try to have the provider and partner engaged in their new community and to work with them on achieving work-life balance. It’s also important for retention to make sure that the new employer’s culture, as well as the new community, is supportive of the health care professional who was recruited. This episode was sponsored by 3RNet, <a href="http://www.3RNet.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.3rnet.com</a>

Health Profession Shortages with Mike Shimmens and Joyce Grayson 

Mike Shimmens has over 20 years of experience in the recruitment of health care professionals through various organizations and roles.  He has served as the Executive Director of 3RNet (National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network) since 2012.  In this role he works with a nine-member Board of Directors and a staff of three to assist 54 non-profit and governmental member organizations in the recruitment and retention of quality health care professionals in rural and underserved areas of our country.    “3RNet is a shortened title because our full name is National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network and rural is obviously right there on the title.”  3RNet has over 20 years of experience in providing a quality, interactive job board and educational services to safety net facilities.    Prior to coming to this position, he worked for 6 years at the Missouri Primary Care Association as Director of Recruitment and Workforce Development.  There he assisted 21 Community Health Centers and other Missouri hospitals and clinics in their health professional recruitment efforts through the Missouri Health Professional Placement Service. He also served as the Organizational Member of 3RNet for Missouri and was on its Board of Directors for 2 years before taking the role of Executive Director.  Mike’s first recruitment position in health care was as Director of Medical Staff Development at St. Mary's Health Center in Jefferson City, MO. He served in this role for 9 years and recruited for all physician specialties and advanced practice nurses at this 167-bed hospital and affiliated clinics.  Additionally, he helped create medical staff plans for the organization and served as a liaison to a large, multispecialty clinic in the community.  He has maintained membership in ASPR (Association of Staff Physician Recruiters) continuously since 1997. 

Mike Shimmens has over 20 years of experience in the recruitment of health care professionals through various organizations and roles.  He has served as the Executive Director of <a href="https://www.3rnet.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">3RNet</a> (National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network) since 2012.  In this role he works with a nine-member Board of Directors and a staff of three to assist 54 non-profit and governmental member organizations in the recruitment and retention of quality health care professionals in rural and underserved areas of our country.    “3RNet is a shortened title because our full name is National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network and rural is obviously right there on the title.”  <a href="https://www.3rnet.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">3RNet</a> has over 20 years of experience in providing a quality, interactive job board and educational services to safety net facilities.    Prior to coming to this position, he worked for 6 years at the Missouri Primary Care Association as Director of Recruitment and Workforce Development.  There he assisted 21 Community Health Centers and other Missouri hospitals and clinics in their health professional recruitment efforts through the Missouri Health Professional Placement Service. He also served as the Organizational Member of <a href="https://www.3rnet.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">3RNet</a> for Missouri and was on its Board of Directors for 2 years before taking the role of Executive Director.  Mike’s first recruitment position in health care was as Director of Medical Staff Development at St. Mary's Health Center in Jefferson City, MO. He served in this role for 9 years and recruited for all physician specialties and advanced practice nurses at this 167-bed hospital and affiliated clinics.  Additionally, he helped create medical staff plans for the organization and served as a liaison to a large, multispecialty clinic in the community.  He has maintained membership in ASPR (Association of Staff Physician Recruiters) continuously since 1997.

135: A Conversation with Mike Shimmens